Automatic hoop-stock equalizing, lapping, and pointing machine.



- Patented l an.'8, I90].

I No. 665,732.

"a. A. gnslem AUTUIATIC "0UP STOCK EIIIJALIZING, LA PPING, AND l-"linll'l' lm'i MACHINE.

(Application filed Juno 6, 1900.) (No Modal.) 3 Shoots-Sheet I.

W/TNCSSES:

A 770/? rs m: Nonms PETERS 60.. wnowum No. 665,732. Patented Jan. 8, I901. G. A. ENSIGN.

AUTOMATIC HOOP STOCK EOUALIZING, LAPPING, AND POINTING MACHINE.

(Afplication filed June 5. 1900.: (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheat 2.

WITNESSES IN VE N 70/? Tu: 0mm mans $0.. momuma. wuumm'ou. n. c.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. ENSIGN, OF DEFIANOE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DEFIANOE MACHINE WORKS, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC HOOP-STOCK EQUALlZlNG, LAPPING, AND POlNTlNG MACHlNE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 6 ,732. dat d January Application filed June 5, 1900. serial Ito-19,142, (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. ENSIGN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Defiance, in the county of Defiance and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Hoop-Stock Equalizing, Lapping, and Pointing Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to woodworking machinery; and its object is to provide a new and improved machine for treating the stock for wooden barrel-hoops, to automatically cut the same to uniform length, to point one end of each hoop, and to lap or bevel the other end in a very simple and effective manner.

The invention consists of novel features and parts "and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same with the guide swung backward to show the cutter-heads. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the improvement on the line 4 4 in Fig. 1 with the guide swung backward to show the cutter-heads. Fig. 5 is an end view of the improvement, showing the drivinggear and belt-tightener. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of thedevice for beveling the ends of the hoop-stock. Fig. 7 is a like view of the hood for the same. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the bed or anvil for supporting the hoop-stock while the latter is being beveled or lapped. Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view of the cutter-head for pointing one end of the stock. Fig. 10 is an end view of the same. Fig. 11 is an enlarged plan view of the bed for supporting the hoop-stock while it is being pointed. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the finished hoop, and Fig. 14 is an edge view of the same.

The improved machine is mounted on a suitably-constructed bed-frame A, supportheads or tables B B, provided at their front ends with projections B B for temporarily supporting the stocks 0 as the latter are successively removed by the operator from a bundle of hoop-stock contained in a holder A, secured to or forming part of the bed-frame A, as indicated in Fig. l.

The hoop-stock O, placed 011 the projection B is taken hold of by fingers D on endless sprocketchains D, adapted to pass over sprocket-wheels D D of which the former is journaled loosely on a stud carried by the projection B and the other sprocket-wheel D is secured on a driven shaft E, extending longitudiuallyand journaled in suitable bearings in the tables B B. One outer end of the shaft E carries a pulley E, connected by a belt E with a pulley E on the main shaft E provided with a pulley E connected by a belt E with other machinery for imparting a rotary motion to the shaft E The rotary motion of the latter is transmitted by the belt E and pulley E to the shaft E, so that the sprocket-wheels D are turned to impart a traveling motion to the sprocket-chains D and move a stock successively forward by the fingers D on the sprocket-chains D. The stock carried forward by a pair of fingers D on the two oppositely-located sprocket-chains D passes under guides F, held on the tables B B, it being understood that the stocks extend with their ends upon the tops of the by said tables B B, so that the guides can be swung rearwardly in case it is desired to remove a stock. The stocks are also supported between the tables B B by passing upon transversebars G G G of which the bars G G are secured to the inner ends of the tables B 13, while the middle bar G is supported from the bed-frame A, the upper edges of said bars, however, being in the same horizontal plane as that of the faces of the tables B B.

When a pair of fingers D has moved a hoopstock transversely and finally disengages said hoop-stock and leaves the latter at rest on the tables B B and the bars G .G G then the left-hand end of this particular stock is cut ofi by one of the knives H of a revoluble cutter-head H, held on a shaft H extending longitudinally and journaled in suitable bear ings onthe top of the table B. On theshaft H is secured agear-wheel H in mesh with a gear-wheel H on-the driven shaft E, so that the rotary motion of the latter causes a like motion of the shaft H to revolve the cutterhead H and cause one of the knives thereof to cut off one end of the stock. As the other end of the stock rests against the gage B it is evident that the several stocks treated in the manner described will be all of a uniform length.

While the stock is at rest, as above described, and its left-hand end is cut off by the cutterhead H, its right-hand end rests on a bed or anvil I, held on the top of the table B, and while this end is thus atrest it is pointed by the diverging knives J of the out L ter-head J. The bed I consists, essentially, of a fixed knife-blade I, secured to a bracket 1 bolted or otherwise fastened to the table B, the side edges of the blade being tapered to conform to the shape of the point to be given to the stock by the knives J. Thelatter are secured to the opposite faces of arms J integrally diverging from hubs J secured on a shaft J extending transversely and journaled in suitable bearings on the top of the table B.

On the shaft J is secured a bevel gearwheel K, in mesh with a bevel gear-wheel K, secured on a longitudinally-extending shaft K likewise journaled on the table B and connected by gear-wheels K K with the driven shaft E, so that when the latter is rotated, as above described, a rotary motion is given to the shafts K J to revolve the cutter-head J and to cause the knives J thereof to cut the opposite sides of the right-hand end of the stock While the latter is at rest over the blade I of the bed I. V In order to hold this endof the stock in proper position for the knives J to equally trim or cut the opposite sides of the end, I provide the free ends of the arms J with angular guide-arms J adjustably held on said arms by bolts J J, extending through elongated slots J in the guidearms J As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the guide-arms are beveled at their opposite edges, so that when the cutter-head J revolves the beveled edges engage the side edges of the stock and hold the same in proper position over the bed I while the knives J do the cutting.

From the foregoing it is evident that the left-hand end of the stock is cut oif by the cutter-head H, while at the same time the right-hand end of the stock is pointed by the cutter-head J and as soon as this operation is completed then fingers L on transverselytraveling endless sprocket-chains L engage thestockandmove the same transversely to finally pass the ends of the stock over theinclined bed-pieces or anvils N and cause the ends to beslightly turned upward (see Fig. 6) for the knives O of revoluble cutter-heads O to out thetop surfaces of the ends and bevel or lap thesaine, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 3, 4, and 6.

"The endless spr'ocket-chainsL are arranged close to the inner sides of the tablesB B and said sprocketchains pass over sprocketwheels L on the shaft E and over sprocketwheels L journaled loosely on the rear ends of the bed-frame A, as is plainly indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 4- Each of the cutter-heads O is preferably provided with four straight knives O, which can be easily ground or sharpened by an ordinary mechanic, it being understood that by bending the ends of the stock it is not necessary to employ beveled orspiral cutting-knives, as the straight edges of the knives cutting the bent ends of the stock will produce the desired bevel on the ends of the stock. Each cutter-head O is secured on a shaft 0 journaled'in suitable bearings attached to the corresponding table B or B, and on each shaft 0 is a pulley 0 connected by a belt 0 with other machinery, so that a rotary motion is given to the said cutter-heads "O at a high rate of speed.

In order to prevent chips or shavings cut by the knives Ov from the ends of the stock from'fiyingforward toward the operator, I provide hoods P, secured by bolts to the bearings for the shaft 0 The said hoods P are arranged at the front of the cutter-heads, so that the chips or shavings are thrown rearward, and consequently do not annoy the operator feeding the stock successively to the machine, as above described. The hoods P are made very heavy and extend with their base portions over the stock ends to assist in holding the stock endsdown over the bedpieces N at the front ends thereof, while the knives O of the cutter-heads lap or bevel the top faces of the stock ends, the bolts P P for vertically to compensate for the varying thickness of the ends of the stock.

' The front and rear edges of the bed-pieces N are beveled, as illustrated in Fig. 8, so that the ends of the stock readily travel upand down the side edges upon passing to and from the said bed-pieces N, it being understood that the ends of the stock readily turn up to conform to the shape of the bed-pieces, owing to the adjacent guides F extending over the stock directly above the inner edges of the tables B B and close to the supporting-bars G G, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 6 and 7.

' The table B is preferably fixed on the bedframe A, while the table B is mounted to slide longitudinally thereon to adjust the machine for different lengths of hoop-stock, and for this purpose the table B is mounted to slide on a frame and is provided with a shaft Q, carrying at its outer end a crank-arm Q and at its inner end a gear-wheel Q in mesh with a rack Q extending longitudinally on the bed-frame A, as is plainly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. i

In order to stop or start the machine, I prefer to usea loose belt E and a belt-tighl'ener forthe same, as illustrated in Fig. 5, said belt E when tight driving the pulley E and when loose preventing rotation of said pulley. 'lhe belt-tightener consists, essentially, of a tightener-pulley R, adapted to engage the lower run of the belt E adjacent to the pulley E and this tightener-pulley R is journaled in a lever R, fulcrumed at R and having an opening R at its outer end for engagement by a rod R, extending in front of the machine and connected with a lever R fulcrumed on the bed-frame and adapted to be pushed to one side by the operator handling the stock, as previously explained. When the rod R is in engagement with the lever B, then the pulley R tightens the belt E but when the operator pushes the lever B to the right then the rod R is withdrawn from the lever B and the pulley R can now swing by its own weight out of engagement with the belt E so that the latter comes to a' stop and with it the pulley E and shaft E. The swinging motion of the lever R is limited by a bolt R, secured to the end of the bed-frame and extending through an elongated slot R formed on the lever B. (See Fig. 5.)

The operation is as follows: When the shafts E and O are rotated, as previously explained, and the operator places a stock on the projections B B with the right-hand end of the stock abutting against the gage B, then a pair of fingers D will take hold of the stock and move the same transversely over the supporting-bars G G G and the tables B B until the stock is moved with the righthand end upon the bed I, and then the fingers disengage the stock and one of the knives H now cuts oil" the left-hand end of the stock, while the right-hand end is trimmed at opposite sides by the cutter-head J to point this end of the stock. As soon as this has been done a pair of fingers L engage the stock and move the same farther transversely and over the bed-pieces N to bend the ends of the stock upward, so that the cutter-heads O bevel theends of the stock, as above explained. The fingers L carry the stock farther forward and finally drop the same when the fingers pass around the wheels L It is understood that the operator feeds the stock successively to the machine, as above described, it being understood that the succeeding pairs of fingers D first move the stock a short distance, and

then after the stock has been equalized by the cutter-head H and pointed by the cutter head J it is again moved'forward by the fingers L of the endless traveling chains L.

From the foregoing it is evident that no reciprocating cutter-heads are employed, as in machines heretofore constructed and used for the same purpose, and, furthermore, no spiral cutter-heads are necessary, as the cutter- .heads 0 have straight knives, so that an ordinary mechanic can readily sharpen the knives and in general attend to the machine without employing skilled labor.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. A machine of the class described, provided with a revoluble cut-off cutter-head for cutting off one end of a hoop-stock while the latter is at rest, a revoluble pointing cutterhcad for pointing the other end of the hoopstock, a pair of revoluble lapping cutter-heads for beveling or lapping the ends of the hoopstock, and carriers moving in unison for intermittently moving the hoop-stock forward, the first carrier moving the hoop-stock to position for the en t-off cutter-head and the pointing cutter-head to act on the hoop-stock while the latter is at rest, and the second carrier moving the hoop-stock, after being cut off and pointed, forward and past the lapping cutterheads for beveling the ends of the hoop-stock, as set forth.

2. In a machine of the class described, a revoluble pointing cutter-head having diverging arms provided with knives, and angular centering-guides adjustable 011 said diverging arms, as set forth.

3. In a machine of the class described, a revol uble pointing cutter-head having diverging arms provided with knives, angular centering-guides adjustable on said arms, and a bed having a blade with side edges operating in conjunction with said knives, to point the end of the hoop-stock, as set forth.

4:. A machine of the class described, having a revoluble pointing cutter-head com prising hubs and arms diverging from said hubs and provided with knives, a bed having a blade with side edges operating in conjunction With the knives to point the end of the hoop-stock, centering-guides on said arms for centering the end of the hoop-stock and holding it against lateral movement while the knives out the end of the stock, and a carrier for moving the hoop-stock in position, as set forth.

5. A machine of the class described, provided with a gage or abutment for one end of the hoop-stock, a revoluble cutter-head for cutting 01f the other end of the hoop-stock, a pointing cutter-head adjacent to the said gage and arranged to point the end of the hoop-stock after it leaves the gage, the said pointing cutter-head having diverging arms provided with knives, and centering-guides IIO 1 face for holding the ends of the hoop-stock at an angle to the cutting-line of said cutterhead, and hoods for the on tter-heads and having their base portions extending. over the stock ends to hold the stock ends down over the beds, the said hoods being weighted and mounted to yield vertically, as set forth.

7. In a machine of the class described,,a carrier for moving a hoop-stock forward, a pair of revoluble lapping cutter-heads for beveling the ends of the hoop-stock, guides extending over the stock and engaging the same adjacent to the ends to be beveled, a bed below each cuttenhead and having an inclined surface for holding the end of the hoop-' stock at an angle to the cutting-line of said cutter-head, the said beds having the hoopstock entrance edge beveled to gradually bend the ends of the hoop-stock, the exit edge of the bed being also beveled to allow the stock to straighten out after leaving the inclined surface of the bed, and means engaging and bearing on the ends of the hoop-stock, While.

the cutter-heads out said ends, substantially as set forth.

8. A machine of the class described, provided with a pointing cutter-head, comprisin g a revoluble shaft, diverging arms secured to the shaft, knives secured to opposite sides of the arms, and adjustable centering-guides on the said arms, substantially as shown and described.

9. A machine of the class described, provided with a pointing cutter-head, comprising a revoluble shaft, hubs secured on said shaft, arms diverging from said hubs,knives secured to the inner sides of the arms, and angular guides provided with elongated slots and adjustably held on the said arms, substantiallyas described.

10. A machine of the class described provided with a bed having a blade with tapering side edges, and a pointing cutter-head comprising a revoluble shaft, diverging arms secured to said shaft, knives secured to opposing sides of the arms and acting in conjunction with the blade on said bed, and ad,- justable centeringuides on the said arms, substantially as described.

11. A machine of the class described, provided with tables, carriers operating in unison for moving a hoop-stock intermittently, guides under which the hoop-stock passes, the said guides being pivoted at their rear ends to the tables, and bolts carried by said guides for removably engaging keepers carried by said tables for the purpose set forth.

(waste 12. In a machine of the class described, a shaft mounted to turn, means for driving the same, an endless carrier driven from said shaft and adapted to carry the hoop-stock forward, a gage or abutment for one end of the hoop-stock and located at one side of the can rier, a revoluble cutter-head located at the opposite side of the carrier for cutting off the projecting end of the hoop-stock, a pointing cutter-head located adjacent to the gage for pointing the end of the hoop-stock, the said cutterheads being driven from the shaft, lapping cutter-heads for beveling the ends of the hoop-stock, and a second carrier driven from the said shaft and moving in unison with the first carrier for moving the hoopstock to said lapping cutters after its ends are cut and pointed, substantially as set forth.

13. A machine of the class described, comprising a shaft mounted to turn, means for driving the same, an endless carrier for feeding the hoop-stock forward and driven from said shaft, a cutter-head located at one side of the carrier for cutting ofi one-end of the hoop-stock, a pointing cutter-head for pointing the other end of said hoop-stock, the said cutter-heads being driven from the shaft, a second carrier driven from the said shaft for feeding the hoop-stock forward after its ends are cut and pointed respectively, and lapping cutter-headslocated at opposite sides of the said second carrier for beveling the ends of the hoop-stock, substantially as described.

14:. A machine of the class described, comprising a bed-frame, tables supported on said bed-frame and provided at their front ends with projections for temporarily supporting the hoop-stocks, a shaft mounted to turn in hearings in the tables near the front thereof, an endless carrier driven from said shaft and comprisingoppositely-locatedsprocket-chains provided with fingers and passing over sprocket-wheels, a gage-plate at one side of the carrier and secured to one of said tables, and against which one end of the hoop-stock abuts, a pointing cutter-head journaled adjacent to the gage and arranged to point the end of the hoop-stock, a revoluble cutter-head carried by the other table and located at the opposite side of the carrier and arranged to cutoff the projecting end of the stock,the said carrier moving the hoopstock to position to be cut off and pointed, a second carrier driven from the said shaft and comprising oppositelylocated sprocket-chains arranged near the inner sides of the tables and passing over sprocket-wheels, the said chains being provided with fingers arranged to engage and move the hoop-stock after the latter is cut off and pointed, and cutter-heads carried by the said tables and located at opposite sides of the said second carrier for beveling or lapping the ends of the hoop stock, substantially as described.

15. A machine of the class described, comprising a bed-frame, tables supported on said bed-frame, one of said tables being adjustable on said bed-frame toward and from the other table, means for adjusting said table, and carriers located adjacent to the inner sides of the tables and operating in unison for moving a hoop-stock intermittently, as set forth. I

16. A machine of the class described, comprising a bed-frame, tables supported on said bed-frame, one of said tables being adjustable on said bed-frame toward and from-the other table, carriers located adjacent to the inner sides of said tables and operating in unison for moving the hoop-stock intermittently, a revoluble cut-0E cutter-head carried by one of said tables for cutting off one end of a hoop-stock, while the latter is at rest,a revoluble pointing cutter-head carried by the other table for pointing the other end of the hoop-stock, and a revoluble lapping cutterhead carried by each of said tables for beveling or lapping the ends of the hoop-stock, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE A. ENSIGN.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. DEATRIOK, Jos. W. BAUER. 

